Wii U Gamepads Will Finally Be Sold Standalone, But Only in Japan

Nintendo has started selling Wii U Gamepads outside of the console package. Kotaku reports that the controllers are available to buy directly from Nintendo today for ¥12,800 ($104), but only in Japan.

There is no word as of yet if the standalone controllers will be put on sale in other regions. GameSpot has contacted Nintendo of America in an attempt to find out.

Currently, the Wii U only supports gameplay for one Gamepad at a time. Multi-Gamepad support is on the way (via Engadget), but the company has yet to share any concrete details. As such, the ability to buy a second Gamepad at this time doesn't seem all that alluring, but still, a good option to have if you need it.

The tablet-like Gamepad is arguably the Wii U's standout feature, delivering features like off-screen play and more. Before this, the only way to get a new Gamepad was through the console package or by requesting a replacement from Nintendo.